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Autism home director 'disappointed' by Doug Ford’s opposition

The director of an Etobicoke home for teens with autism says she is disappointed that Councillor thinks the treatment program has “ruined the community.”

Speaking last week at a meeting between residents and staff from the Griffin Centre, Ford backed neighbours who are concerned about mental health treatment at a home in their midst, according to a report in the Etobicoke Guardian.

“My heart goes out to kids with autism. But no one told me they’d be leaving the house,” Ford was quoted as saying.

“If it comes down to it, I’ll buy the house myself and resell it.”

Ford did not respond to requests for comment from the Star on Saturday.

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The Ward 2 councillor was the target of ire on social media, with many taking to Twitter to express their opposition to Ford’s reported comments. Some also said they would donate to the Griffin Centre, a mental health agency with five residential treatment programs in the GTA for youth and adults with autism and developmental disabilities.

Former MP and Ontario premier Bob Rae was among those to slam Ford on Saturday.

“This is the opposite of leadership on mental health,” he wrote on Twitter. “Doug Ford should be ashamed of himself — hurting not helping.”

Deanna Dannell, the Griffin Centre’s director of youth and family support services, said she attended last week’s community meeting to explain how the residential treatment program works and meet people in the neighbourhood. She said she was caught off guard by the heated opposition to the home’s presence in the area north of Kipling Ave. and Rexdale Blvd.

“We certainly didn’t anticipate it,” she said.

“It was disappointing to hear that kind of reaction from (Ford). Certainly we had hoped for something different.”

At the meeting, neighbours were concerned about several police calls to the treatment home in the weeks since it opened, said Dannell. The home is staffed 24 hours a day, she said, and employees are trained to call 911 if a patient’s behaviour becomes a safety issue.

Toronto police Sgt. Colleen Bowker said police from 23 Division have been called to the address, but that she didn’t know how many times or for what purpose.

Dannell said the Griffin Centre moved into the home on Jeffcoat Dr. in mid-March, after a previous facility in a nearby community centre was shut down. The home has capacity for five teens, but is currently looking after three.

“We wanted to keep the children from that facility in their community,” said Dannell, who added that the patients attend school in the area.

She said the teenagers in care at such facilities typically have issues socializing, adjusting to new environments, and experience depression and anxiety.

“Given some of the challenges and issues that these youth face, it becomes very difficult for parents to support (them),” she said, explaining why some patients enter 24-hour care.

Dannell said there will be a second meeting with Ford and concerned community members next week.

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